FresnoForward.com is a politics blog in Fresno, California. It also has a television arm. Here are its recommendations for the June 3 California primary. The group supports the Green Party members running for Treasurer and Controller, and says it endorses them because of their support for a state bank. The group also supports Orly Taitz, independent for Attorney General. Most of its recommendations are for Republicans. Thanks to Bill Van Allen for the link.
On May 23, U.S. District Court Judge Matthew F. Leitman, an Obama appointee, issued a 22-page order, putting Congressman John Conyers on the August 5 primary ballot. The decision rests almost entirely on Nader v Blackwell, a 2008 decision of the Sixth Circuit that struck down Ohio’s requirement that circulators for candidates must be registered voters. Michigan is also in the Sixth Circuit.
Michigan election officials had already determined that Conyers did have enough valid signatures, if it weren’t for the law barring circulators who aren’t registered voters. The opinion is somewhat critical of the state for initially saying it would not determine how many valid signatures Conyers had until early June. The decision says the court had to pressure the state to make its decision on that by today. Thanks to Rick Hasen for the link.
Benwood, West Virginia, held an election for town council on May 13. The town elects members by district. Curtis Mele was running unopposed, but his name was accidentally omitted from the ballot, and another incumbent who does not live in that district was listed instead. See this story. Thanks to Doug McNeil for the link.
On May 22, Great Britain voted for local government posts in many places, and also for representatives to the European Parliament. This article says that partial election returns for local races show that the UKIP (United Kingdom Independence Party) made substantial gains, and that the Green Party also gained. Results of the European Parliament voting won’t be known until Sunday. Those returns will be even more interesting, since proportional representation is being used for the European Parliament elections. Thanks to J. David Gillespie for the link. UDATE: this story has more detailed election outcomes.
The Virginia Libertarian Party has nominated candidates for U.S. House in all eleven districts. Because the party is not qualified, each nominee needs his or her own petition of 1,000 valid signatures to appear on the ballot. The deadline is June 10. If all eleven candidates get on the ballot, this will be the first time any party other than the Democratic and Republican Parties ran a full slate for U.S. House in Virginia since 1916. The Socialist Party had nominees in all Virginia districts that year, and in 1914, and in 1912. See this story. Thanks to Rick Sincere for this news.
